2901 Las Vegas Blvd., South
Las Vegas, NV 89109

(800) 634-3420 or (702) 794-9620

Official Riviera Poker Room Website

Comments:

The Riviera is one of the nicer looking old-school Vegas hotels, IMHO, and it is often overlooked by visitors who stick to the South Strip. This is still a quality joint with a lot of history and some good entertainment.

The Poker Room is not a “room” per-se, as much as it is a roped-off area toward the back of the casino. But this is perfectly fine. Who cares if you have walls around you when you are playing K-Q suited and anticipating a favorable flop? Sometimes I like being in the middle of the action. You play in a room in a home game … why not be surrounded by slots and drunken tourists when you play in a real casino? I don’t see why so many people hate this concept.

I pay here every now and then, and I always have a fine time. The tables and chairs are nothing fancy, but they certainly are not uncomfortable. The “room” staff is very friendly, and the dealers competent.

This room also shares a favorable attribute with the Hilton in that it is within walking distance from the LV Convention Center. This ensures a steady stream of tourists that an older casino might not otherwise get … at least during conventions. Most of the newer players with money to burn gravitate to the newer, more “hip” casino’s, but the Riv pulls in a lot of the 35-50 year old convention-attendees who love to play poker at home, but rarely play in a Casino.

Because of this, the competition can vary wildly. If there is a fashion convention going on, you will get a lot of rich fish, if there is a teamsters convention going on, you’re in trouble.

Know your competition.

When conventions are not an issue, this is a very solid room with a good mix of locals, good tourists, and bad tourists. You never know what you are going to be up against at the Riv, but figuring it out is half the fun.

Drink service is always prompt and frequent.

While there is nothing that truly stands out about this room, I really cannot think of anything that to criticize about it either. It’s well run and standard. I can usually get into a NL game quickly.

If you find yourself near the Riviera, play the room. When I am in the area, I do … and I usually end up enjoying it.

And when you are done, be sure to roam around the casino. They have a lot of very interesting memorabilia, and a picture museum upstairs by the Crazy Girls theater showing scores of people who played the Riv. You can really feel the Las Vegas History in this place, and come to think about it … that is something that does stand out about this place over others.

Come for the history, stay for the poker.

Not to mention, you can rub the bronze Crazy Girl buttocks in front of the Casino:

Which everyone should do if they want to have Lady Luck on their side once the game starts.